Blood, Pride, and the Guv’nor: When Lenny McLean Took the Crown from Roy Shaw
The rivalry between Lenny McLean and Roy Shaw wasn’t just about two men fighting—it was about dominance, ego, and who really ran the streets of London. Both men were hard as nails. Roy “Pretty Boy” Shaw was the original enforcer—an East End gangster who did serious time for armed robbery and made his name smashing through opponents on the unlicensed boxing circuit. He had a reputation for controlled violence, and he used it to build a legacy.
Then came Lenny “The Guv’nor” McLean. Bigger, younger, and arguably more terrifying, Lenny grew up tough in Hoxton and fought in thousands of underground scraps. He worked as a bouncer, debt collector, and enforcer—he was the real deal. And he wasn’t going to let Shaw take all the shine.
Their first fight in 1977 saw Shaw drop McLean and stop him early. Lenny wasn’t having it—he claimed the gloves were loaded and called for a rematch. In their second fight, Lenny came back like a man possessed. He trained hard, tightened up his technique, and came out swinging. He dropped Shaw fast and brutal, even stomping him after the ref tried to step in. Shaw went flying out the ring. McLean stood tall, shouting to the crowd, “I’m the Guv’nor!”
They fought one more time to settle it once and for all. Shaw tried to come forward early, but Lenny smothered him with pressure and punishment. More power, more control, and more heart. He beat Shaw again, sealing the trilogy 2–1 and taking the crown as the true king of unlicensed boxing.
This wasn’t sport—it was war in the ring. Bare-knuckle, underground mayhem. No commissions, no rules, just pure violence and reputation on the line. After the fights, Shaw eventually faded from the spotlight, while Lenny became a cult figure—writing a book, playing a role in Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, and earning legendary status before dying of cancer in 1998.
The McLean vs. Shaw trilogy is still talked about in East End pubs to this day. Not just because of the fights, but because it was two street legends going to war for the right to be called The Guv’nor.
#mma #bareknuckle #bkfc #bareknuckleboxing #fight #fights
The rivalry between Lenny McLean and Roy Shaw wasn’t just about two men fighting—it was about dominance, ego, and who really ran the streets of London. Both men were hard as nails. Roy “Pretty Boy” Shaw was the original enforcer—an East End gangster who did serious time for armed robbery and made his name smashing through opponents on the unlicensed boxing circuit. He had a reputation for controlled violence, and he used it to build a legacy.
Then came Lenny “The Guv’nor” McLean. Bigger, younger, and arguably more terrifying, Lenny grew up tough in Hoxton and fought in thousands of underground scraps. He worked as a bouncer, debt collector, and enforcer—he was the real deal. And he wasn’t going to let Shaw take all the shine.
Their first fight in 1977 saw Shaw drop McLean and stop him early. Lenny wasn’t having it—he claimed the gloves were loaded and called for a rematch. In their second fight, Lenny came back like a man possessed. He trained hard, tightened up his technique, and came out swinging. He dropped Shaw fast and brutal, even stomping him after the ref tried to step in. Shaw went flying out the ring. McLean stood tall, shouting to the crowd, “I’m the Guv’nor!”
They fought one more time to settle it once and for all. Shaw tried to come forward early, but Lenny smothered him with pressure and punishment. More power, more control, and more heart. He beat Shaw again, sealing the trilogy 2–1 and taking the crown as the true king of unlicensed boxing.
This wasn’t sport—it was war in the ring. Bare-knuckle, underground mayhem. No commissions, no rules, just pure violence and reputation on the line. After the fights, Shaw eventually faded from the spotlight, while Lenny became a cult figure—writing a book, playing a role in Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, and earning legendary status before dying of cancer in 1998.
The McLean vs. Shaw trilogy is still talked about in East End pubs to this day. Not just because of the fights, but because it was two street legends going to war for the right to be called The Guv’nor.
#mma #bareknuckle #bkfc #bareknuckleboxing #fight #fights
